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OMELIE / Omelie EN

29 set 2019
29/09/2019 – 26th Sunday in O.T. Year C

29/09/2019 – 26th Sunday in O.T. Year C

Reading 1 AM 6,1.4-7 * Psalm 145 * Reading 2 1TM 6,11-16 * Gospel LK 16,19-31

Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael Archangels

Last Sunday we heard Jesus advising us to make friends using the “dishonest wealth”, in order to be welcomed “into eternal dwellings”. Today’s parable to the Pharisees gives us a concrete example of this and adds a few other teachings useful at all times.

The rich, without a particular name, would be in a position to help the poor, but he is not aware of them. He is too busy in organising lunches and feasts, he is kept busy by his guests and by the need to always appear fashionably dressed, as it is becoming in these occasions the people who think they are important. He does not see the poor who is suffering because of hunger and its consequences, he does not even realise when the latter is lying in front of his door. The rich is not committing any crime, he is not guilty of any very serious sin, he is only keeping his eyes shut in front of Lazarus' needs. This blindness has an influence on his heart, which is also closed.

The Poor’s name is Lazarus, meaning “God helps”! Every poor could have this name, because the poor usually makes assignment on the Father’s help, who have them call Him their friend; He can be characterized, as today’s psalm makes us sing, through the attention He pays to all people in need: oppressed people, hungry people, prisoners, blind people, sinners, foreigners, orphans, widows. The poor continue to have faith in God, who has given the rich all the means to provide them with the necessary things, He has given him the possibility to be a tool of His goodness and mercy. The rich does not realise that poverty exists as a consequence of him being rich.

The difference in wealth does not prevent anyone from dying; instead, switching role, it continues after death as well. And now Jesus reveals us what happens next: whoever says that nobody has ever come back from death, so we cannot be sure of the existence of the paradise and hell, please listen carefully. The rich from the netherworld, where he was in torment, saw the poor's joy, the joy of that Lazarus who in his life used to sit in front of his door, moaning.

Now the moans are his own, the rich’s. Jesus is comparing the sufferings of hell to a burning flame and the impossibility to communicate with anyone. He does not insist on the fact that we need to believe in the possibility to go to hell: the rich ended up in it even if he did not believe in it. Jesus is stating this clearly, even if the rich is still nameless: this is why we cannot say of anyone that they are in hell, while we can name many who we are sure are in paradise!

Jesus continues the parable. What can we do to convince the rich to change their life? Are miracles useful? Would it be useful if someone came back from the dead? The Lord will call back to life a certain Lazarus of Bethany, but those who should have believed and changed life, did not have done it. They did not change the way in which they were behaving towards Jesus, and therefore they did not change the way they look at the poor too, not even their way to manage their wealth. The Lord Himself will rise from the dead, but those who do not want to change life ignore Him, and they use money to spread the lie that is more useful to them, as the evangelist Matthew tells us. The rich is asking for miracles in order for his brothers to be compelled to believe in the truthfulness of the Word of God. But fairly Jesus says that who does not believe in the Word does not let himself to be moved even by miracles. “They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them”. This is the way in which Abraham answers the request coming from the rich that his brothers will have to be compelled by a dead man appearing to them in order to scare them.

God's word is more important, more convincing and compelling than a great miracle. This should remember also all those that nowadays follow the voice of seers and alleged messages. Often those who are ready to run all the way where apparitions are advertised, are not available if the parish organise meetings and services aiming to deepen and realise the obedience to the Word of God.

Love for money creates requests based on pride: he who is enslaved to it would like to be compelled by miracles to believe. This is why the Word of God is very clear in warning that whoever relies on wealth is preparing for himself unthinkable sufferings. Today the prophet Amos is in charge of this. Saint Paul as well is begging us to flee the greed for money (see the sentences which are right before today’s reading 1Tm 6:7-10) and keep in front of the eyes Jesus’ testimonial in order to grow as a more intense desire his commandment, meaning the realisation of the love for God and the brethren, living in faith and piety with a great meekness. This is the way bringing us to heaven!